Redondo’s Hyman played a variety of positions before finding his niche at receiver

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Redondo senior Ryan Hyman played three other positions ? running back, fullback and tight end ? before making a name for himself at wide receiver this season. Hyman, who has 48 catches for an area-best 1,046 yards, will certainly be a main target today when Redondo travels to Dominguez for a Western Division quarterfinal.

It seems Redondo football coach Gene Simon had been waiting most of his career for a receiver like Ryan Hyman.

To think Simon found Hyman almost by accident.

Hyman began as a running back as a freshman. There was a year at fullback as a sophomore. He even played tight end as a junior.

Finally, Hyman had his chance to flourish this season at receiver.

“That’s my mentality: put me anywhere on the field and I’ll get the job done,” Hyman said. “When passing league came, I had to show them what I could do at receiver.”

Hyman has transformed into one of the South Bay’s major playmakers and gives Simon the prolific receiver he had always wanted.

Week after week, Hyman continues to dazzle Simon with his big-play propensity and his ability to take over a game.

“It’s just his grace. He’s one of the most graceful athletes I think I’ve ever had at receiver,” Simon said. “He’s like a fully developed tree over a bunch of underdeveloped trees. He just reaches up and gets the ball.

“I’ve been coaching 15 years at Redondo High, and I finally have a chance to have a player like that. It’s a treat.”

Hyman has 48 catches for an area-best 1,046 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, and he will certainly be a main target today when Redondo travels to Dominguez for a CIF Southern Section Western Division quarterfinal at 7:30 p.m.

“It’s crazy. I feel like my team is depending on me, and I can’t mess up,” Hyman said. “There’s going to be a lot of talent on the field, and it’s going to be fun.”

Simon said he loves how Hyman can haul in any ball, whether it’s leaping high over defenders or racing downfield to catch balls that are seemingly uncatchable.

During a summer passing league game when two games are played simultaneously on the same football field, Simon can recall when he told quarterback Chris Mares to throw the ball as far downfield as he could to give Hyman a chance to showcase his skill set.

“The ball kept hanging, and Hyman was running and running. He literally caught it in the other game,” Simon said. “It’s impossible to overthrow him. He can just go and get the football.”

Hyman said he tells Mares to air it out for him.

“I tell him to just lead me and I”ll definitely get it for you. Just trust me,” Hyman said.

Hyman’s speed is striking, but he remembers a sequence against Banning that showed his other attributes.

Hyman ran a 5-yard slant, caught the ball and broke a defender’s tackle. He kept running, dragging another defender along before freeing himself and delivering a stiff arm to a final defender en route to a touchdown.

“That’s one of my favorites,” said Hyman, who caught eight passes for 159 yards and all three touchdowns in that 21-20 win over Banning. “It was a clutch play too.”

An athletic 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Hyman passes the eyeball test for college football.

Unfortunately Hyman is the first to admit that his grades will prevent him from playing college football, at least at the Division I level next season.

Hyman said he will play junior college football, either at Harbor, El Camino or L.A. Southwest College.

“Too many D’s, man. They just killed me,” Hyman said. “It’s a passing mark, but it doesn’t look good for college.

“In past years, I was goofing around. You always hear about sports players being really active and doing so much, they forget about the school work. It’s about having fun. After a while, you start realizing it’s your senior year and you’ve got to step up and worry about the real world.”

Hyman raised his grade-point average to 3.1 this season, yet that’s not the only area that he has elevated himself.

Simon said Hyman is also making smarter decisions on the field.

“He heard the senior call,” Simon said. “He’s really stepped up this year. Last year as a junior, he had some erratic plays, but I think he’s realizing there’s no next year to look forward to, at least at the high school level.”

Simon said he is surprised no one has taken a flier on Hyman.

“For the next level, he’s a real diamond, and for him not to get any notice is ridiculous,” Simon said. “He’s coming on and making a statement every game.